Thursday, June 23, 2011

My Next Run

Good luck to everyone running Western States on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who is helping out with the race. Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes. Should be a fun one. Doesn't look like it's going to be too awfully hot, maybe even a few degrees cooler than last year. Should only be around 90 in the hot areas of the course. Either way though this is about 20 degrees warmer than any weather I've been in all year. It's going to feel really damn hot for sure. Did about 5 or 6 miles in Truckee a bit ago. It was about 70 or 75 and this felt really hot. For me it won't even be the heat as much as the dryness. I've been working through a head/chest cold for the past week and the dry air (combined with the altitude) really puts some extra stress on the lungs. Should be good and ready to roll by Saturday though.

Now that Western States will be my next run I'm starting to build some focus and excitement about Saturday. It's going to be really exciting to run a 100 mile race with such depth of world class runners (and then another one again in August). All of the 100 milers I've done previous to this one had significantly fewer truly top level runners. Even Western States last year was nowhere near as deep at the top as this year. It'll be fun to see how it all shakes out. Hope you all enjoy your weekend as much as I'm hoping to.

41 comments:

All the best for a great run Geoff. I just re-read your report from last year and it does provide some great insights into how to race a 100 miler even with all the highs and lows that ou have to deal with.

Goodluck Geoff. I think kilian will be a lot better this year and you will have to go maybe under 15 hours based on last years course (can't compare it to this years) which I am sure you can do. Us arm chair fans are sooooooooo excited!

Good luck Geoff but remember your health is much more important than any race so read your body and listen to what it is saying. We will be watching from Cleveland, NY (your hometown) and I am sure a lot of others will be watching from all areas of the world. You are such an inspiration to so many people. We love you very much and are so proud of you.

Have a fabulous race, Geoff - I am one of the many people your mom tells you that you are an inspiration to. I hope one day I'll be lining up alongside you at WS. The story of your victory last year is a true indication of the overwhelming power of the human spirit.

It's easy to see what happened and why it happened yesterday. You lost your edge. The same guy who last year was going on and on about how we need more races that put the super elites together over the last few months has become a guy talking about how Western States was no big deal and just your next run. Well such a mentality isn't going to get you across the finish line first...or across the finish line at all. News flash: western States isn't "your next run"- it's the biggest fucking 100-miler in the world. Kilian had the eye of the tiger as did Nick and Jez and you didn't have the eye of the tiger. You were intimindated by Kilian and never challenged him. So may this be a learning experience for you--you lost your first 100. And you lost it cause you lost your edge.

And you also lost it cause you raced too much going into western. The guys out there who raced too much, you and Mackey mainly, came up short. Clark raced too much and might have won had he not done so many goddamned races this year. When the fuck are people gonna get it? Unless you're 22 like Kilian, chill the fuck out with over-racing.

In all honesty, WS 100 is the biggest ultra trail in the world. UTMB or Commarades are the next biggest things. Who cares who really won. It's a sporting event and ultimately athletes are there to entertain us. They aren't warriors, they aren't fighting for our freedoms or democracy. Athletes are there for there own good. I just hope next year an American brings our cougar back the USA! :)

Thank goodness for Mike Wolfe or it would have been an international top 4.

Cloud you may want to wait for Geoff's story before putting the boot in. He may have taken a fall for all you know, wrestled a bear, gotten bitten by a snake, had a tree fall on him. What ever the reason I'm sure he had a very good reason for DNF'ing.

I am so glad that Cloud knows everything. He wasn't even there and has no idea why Geoff DNF and why Geoff was at the finish line cheering on the other top runners that did finish. That really shows the friendships that these top runners all have for each other and how much they respect each other. Anyone of them can win a race on any given day - they are all top notch athletes and should be treated as such, but some people (Cloud especially) have no idea how much they want to see each other do good.

So, to all the top finishers, I say Congratulations and to all the runners in the race I say nice job and you should all be very proud of yourselves and what you accomplished yesterday.

I'm sorry, but I simply do not understand why anyone would badmouth a person who is humble, nice, caring, loves running, loves being in the mountains, and loves to cheer on and help others with their running. What is this guy's problem? (I'm assuming this is a guy - excuse me if I am wrong.) Geoff - we are proud of you and how you handle yourself no matter what the trail throws in your way. Even on a "bad" day, you are way fast. But you know all that, so hope this troll, who feels obligated to criticize that which he does not understand, doesn't cause you so much as to blink.

When most would of been sulking and feeling sorry about dropping Geoff was at the finish to give Kilian a high five and some kind words. He was also there 2 hours ish later to join teammate Ellie Greenwood running through the streets of Auburn happy as anything for her. Geoff's resume speaks for itself and one bad race happens to everyone, heck most have many many bad races. But true to what makes ultra running great Geoff exhibits the camaraderie and respect most of have for anyone who toes the line, be it aiming for 15 hours or 30 hours. If you don't want to learn a lesson from Geoff about running Cloud that's cool. It would be nice if you could learn a lesson from him about class and respect. Happy trails!Ryne

Really though, Cloud, would you have spewed this garbage to Geoff's face on the track at Auburn? Somehow, I doubt it as you use an anonymous handle on the internet. Perhaps you should spend a little more time on the trails yourself instead of worrying about what Geoff is/isn't doing? If you think you know the game so well, why not use it to further your own running career? Who knows, maybe you'll come to understand and share the love Geoff has for this sport and the people who do it!

Personally I think "Cloud" made some fine points, he may or may not be right on all points but his thoughts are legit. Over racing is an issue for some, funny they cannot see it. WS is HUGE and the field stacked so putting the same mental energy into it as you would a Fat Ass 50K will not bring home the Cougar, more likely a DNF. Thanks Cloud for posting something a little more than a pat on the back.

Geoff good luck the rest of the season we all hope for a top notch performance at UTMB.